'The Wiz' That Was: This Musical Was Around Before MJ And Diana Ross

Iterations like 2015's "The Wiz Live!" and 1978's "The Wiz" film have the overwhelming success of the original Broadway play to thank.

SHOW TRANSCRIPT

Shanice Williams, Ne-Yo and Elijah Kelley are set to ease on down the road tonight, but they follow in the footsteps of Stephanie Mills, Tiger Haynes and Hinton Battle — the Broadway legends who made all of this possible.

Families around the country watch the TV movie "The Wiz" year-round. Entertainment legends are seemingly everywhere: Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, Diana Ross, Lena Horne and even Phylicia Rashad as an extra.

But without the overwhelming success of the original Broadway play, "The Wiz" film, "The Wiz Live!" and its many other iterations may never have happened.